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Climate Change and other Stressors

White-tailed Tropicbird by Elena Babij

Ecosystems are currently under pressure from a number of stressors
in addition to climate change, including habitat loss and degradation,
development, pollution, toxic chemicals, overfishing, invasive species,
pests, disease outbreaks, habitat fragmentation, and wildfires.

Climate change may interact with and amplify many of these existing
stressors. As a result, birds and habitats that are already stressed
may be highly vulnerable to additional impacts due to climate
change.

Climate change will add to other existing stressors
by:

• Altering habitats, allowing for the increase of invasive species. As
invasive species expand, they can outcompete native species, leading to
the reduction or loss of native plants and wildlife.

Photo by Erin Macchia

• Spreading disease. Distribution of disease patterns and changes in
wildlife occurrence will affect the transmission of diseases. It is
also expected that infectious diseases will emerge more frequently and
in new areas due to climate change.

• Changing the distribution and availability of surface and ground
water. Climate change will constrain water resources, further
increasing competition among agricultural, municipal, industrial, and
wildlife uses.